The Bush Spa at Mfuwe Lodge, South Luangwa Valley Zambia

 One of the best things we did was prior to arriving at Mfuwe lodge was to arrange to have a little pampering. After a 24 hour travel day a massage sounded like the perfect thing. On our first day after our morning safari us girls had a relaxing massage at the Bush Spa in Mfuwe Lodge.
  It was wonderful and I highly recommend a visit to the spa when staying here. We enjoyed it so much we arranged for another day of pampering on our return after 6 nights in bush camp.
This time we treated ourselves to one of their special packages. I choose the Kegelia African healing and firming wrap which uses extract for them African Sausage Tree, followed by a massage.
Great way to end the trip.

 The spa is all open air and overlooks the pond which has many visitors including a pod of hippo's.
Nothing like getting a massage and listening to hippo's, that was a first.

Take a picture not a body, Stop trophy killing!

Like so many of you, I am deeply sadden and disgusted with the news of the most recent lion killed for the soul purpose of having its head and skin as a trophy.

This one selfish person took it upon himself to kill an animal that so many others have enjoyed watching and photographing over the last 13 years.

Cecil (as the lion was known) has been living in a protected area in Zimbabwe with 2 prides he protected, 6 lionesses and 12 cubs until he was lured out of the park by food in the middle of the night so that this selfish man could shoot him with a crossbow. Cecil was only wounded and was then tracked for 40 hours before finally the man shot him with a rifle killing the lion. Before skinning him and cutting off his head he did make sure he got a picture smiling with the dead lion.

What is wrong with this person? Why do people feel the need to kill such a beautiful creature for their own personal enjoyment?

Sitting by the watering hole at Bilimungwe Bushcamp South Luangwa Zambia

Just sitting on your private deck or in the main area at Bili there is just so much to see and many visitors throughout the day.

Harry the resident Hippo doing what hippo's do all day, not a whole lot. On our last night at camp, we were sitting having a after dinner wine when Harry decided it was time to leave for the evening. He left the watering hole right next to where we were sitting, walked across camp, and through a bush out of sight. It was another wow moment, to be so close to a hippo on land.

A family of warthogs came by for a drink and a bath.

A day typical day at Bushcamp, Bilimungwe South Luangwa Zambia

The days start early in bushcamp, 5:30am/5:45am. Someone from camp comes around to each of the rooms with a morning greeting. While staying at Bilimungwe it is Jason who wishes us a Good Morning to start the day.

 At 6:00am a light breakfast is served, coffee, tea, cereal, fruit, juice, muffins, hard boiled eggs, and our favorite toast grilled on an open fire.

  At Bilimungwe breakfast was served around a fire pit next to an open field. Nothing like the smell of a fire, with a cup of coffee watching a group of Buffalo roaming in the bushes.

At 6:30am it is time to start you morning bush walk. Our guide while in Bilimungwe is Manda who is extremely knowledgeable about everything there is in the South Luangwa Valley.

Bilimungwe Bushcamp, South Luangwa National Park Zambia

For the next 3 nights we are staying at a different bushcamp, Bilimungwe. It is still within the South Luangwa National Park, and 1 of the 6 camps operated by The Bushcamp Company.

It was about a 20 minute drive from Kapamba giving us a whole new area to explore. Each of the camps are uniquely.

Bilimungwe or Bili as they call it is made up of 4 large raised thatched rooms each with its own private deck overlooking a watering hole.

The main area is beneath a huge mahogany tree right in the center of camp overlooking another of the 3 watering holes at camp.

End of a wonderful stay at Kapamba Bushcamp

It is amazing how much we have seen and done in just 4 days!!
This is our last morning at Kapamba, I am going to miss this place. It has been an amazing time here.

We have been so comfortable and the team here is great. We have enjoyed getting to know each one of them and had some good laughs as well.

Last night a dinner my son, George entertained everyone with a few magic tricks. We will never forget Mwase face when he did the trick to him.

                                                                Mwase my Buddy.

What a wonderful job he does keeping everyone happy with food and drinks. It has been a pleasure getting to know him.
Last night at dinner they asked if we had any special requests for breakfast. We had french toast at brunch one day which was delicious and the corn fritters the best we ever had so both was requested. 
Sure enough Chef Dixon had both ready and waiting for us at 6:00am. Great way to start the day.

We then went on our last morning walk with Misek, Barron, and Elijah.

A few of the Beautiful found in the South Luangwa valley, Zambia

One of our favorites - The Lilac Breasted Roller, so colorful

A Memorable Sundowner at Kapamba Bushcamp

One of the things we love to do as a family whether on vacation or at home is to watch the sunset. When traveling we take time out to sit and just watch as the sun creates such colors in the sky. It is a great way to end a day. We are enjoying that every night during our night game drives we take time out to enjoy this event which is known in Africa as Sundowners.

On our last night at Kapamba Bushcamp Julius treated us to a wonderful surprise, Sundowner in the middle of the river. Now this is taking things to a whole new level.

We had so much fun that night.

Baboon Beach Day at Kapamba Bushcamp, South Luangwa Zambia

We spent a lazy afternoon on the deck watching Baboon's enjoy a day on the beach.

 Plus a few Elephants.

Walking Safari full of suprises at Kapamba Bushcamp, South Luangwa Zambia

Wake up call 5:30am, very excited for our first Safari walk. The bushcamps is one of the few places you can walk instead of being in a jeep.
While having coffee we talked about all we heard the night before.

 A elephant had come by George & Tori's Chalet, rubbing himself along the side, and then going right outside their veranda to eat leaves from the tree. He was still hanging around this morning but moved to the area just behind camp.
  We all heard the Hyaena's which were making themselves at home in the camp all night, keeping Mwase busy. There were a few other sounds we think must of been hippo's but not real sure. What we did here close by were some lions.
 Misek suggested that before we start a walk perhaps we should go see if we can spot the lions. Sounded great to all of us. He thought they were close to one of the other camps Bilimungwe.
Off we went in search of lions.
   Misek spotted one laying just off the road, relaxing.

As we moved the jeep around for a better view another one was right there in front of us.

Sundowner marks the end of another day in the Bush

One of my favorite parts of the day is Sunset. Here is Africa they call it Sundowner and celebrate much in the way we do we a nice beverage while watching the sky turned to different colors.

The night game drive starts at 4:00pm with a break to watch the sunset. It is a great time to relax and talk about all we have experienced during the day.

What you learn and experience on a Real African Safari, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

A real Safari is not only about what you see but also what you hear and learning the different behaviors of the animals you are seeing.
 South Luangwa National Park is rich with wildlife some of which is easily seen in the wide open spaces but as you get further into the bush it can get a bit harder to spot things.

 During our trip we were with 3 different guides, Jason, Misek, & Manda, each with their own style but all extremely knowledgeable. We learned so much from each one of them.

 When riding in the jeeps they would stop places giving us a chance to just listen to what is going on around us. On our first game drive we heard a loud pitch screeching sound. Jason told us it was the warning call of a squirrel,  there was a leopard in the area. The baboons also were giving a warning call.

  Spotting a leopard is not easy but when hear the warning calls you know one is close making it somewhat easier to find. We found the tree where the leopard had taken its kill. It was hard to spot but you could see the blood of the Impala through the leaves.

Off to our first bushcamp, Kapamba in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

After 2 nights and a action packed day at Mfuwe Lodge it was time to move to our first bushcamp, Kapamba.

The Bushcamp company has 6 different camps located in the south area of South Luangwa National Park. They are the only camps in that part of the park. We have no real idea what we will experience but very excited to be park of nature in this unique setting.

 Our driver and guide for the next 3 days is Misek. He picked us up at 7:30am for our 3 1/2 hour game drive to camp.

The drive was beautiful and we saw some much.

Impala's and Mongoose

 Love the look on this warthogs face.

 An African Pygmy Kingfisher who just caught something. If you look closely you can see it in it's beak.

Lions of the South Luangwa Valley, Zambia

I am sure by now everyone has heard the news of the American women killed by a lion in Lion Park here is Africa. It houses its animals in large enclosures that simulate their natural environments. It has been split into two areas -  one for herbivores and one for carnivores.
These animals are not in the wild, nor allowed to roam freely, and do not hunt. They interact with humans daily.
We were in the South Luangwa Valley where the animals roam freely together in wide open space the way nature should be. There are no fences and they are not feed by people.

 When we approach them in the wild, we take caution, & assess the mood. They are very much aware we are there but generally want nothing to do with us. They do not depend on people for survival.